Editorials|1 May 1963

Antiserum for Rabies, or Pasteur Revisited

Abstract

One of the great stories in medicine is that of Pasteur's discovery of the vaccine treatment of rabies. As told in his biography by his son-in-law (1), the first treatment in 1885 of little Joseph Meister from Alsace is one of the moments of high suspense in medical history. As the time approached for the final and twelfth injection of the new vaccine, Pasteur was haggard and sleepless with worry: would the little boy contract the dread disease—from his vaccine or in spite of it? As all the world knows, little Joseph remained well and happy and lived to be